Coating machinery



Dec. 27, I927.

J. 1" LANQASTER comma MACHINERY Filed Jan. 1.923

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FNVENTOR J. T. LANCASTER )k Mariya ATTORNEYS) 7 IIec. 27, 1927.

J. T LANCASTER COATING MACHINERY FilQd Jan. 27, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR a1: LANCASTER BY dz:

ATTORNEYS Dec, 27, 1927,

J. 'r. LANCASTER 1,654,130

COATING MACHINERY Filed Jan, 2 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J T LANCASTER v ATTORNEYfi {Deco ,27, 1932?.

COATING MACHINERY Filed Jan, 27. 3.925 4 fineets sheet 4 INVENTOR (I T. LANCASTER ATTORN Elf Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN THOMAS LANCASTER, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR- TO AMERI- CAN OPTICAL COMPANY, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY AS- SOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

COATING MACHINERY.

Application filed January 27, 1923. Serial No. 615,340.

'llhis invention relates to improvements in coating); n'iachinery and has particular reterence to an improved type of machinery especially adapted for use in impregnating cloth, imitation leather, or the like, with a gum or adhesive, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter described.

One of the leading objects of the present invention the provision of a novel and improved machine making,- it possible to satisfactorily permanently unite the adhesive with the strip material.

A further object of the invention the provision of an improved machine which will cause not only a surface adhesion between the members, but will also and additionally cause the adhesive to sink down into the strip or body material.

A. further object of the present invention is the provision of novel and lJX'lIM'O'VCtl mearu; for auto'iatically winding up and c: ntrolliupthe winding or reeling up of the treated material.

Qther objects and iMlVtlUtttgGS of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying dinwings, and it will be understood that "ations in the specific details hereinl1 after shown and described may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

Figure I is a front view of the improved machine.

l i 'ure l l is a side elevation thereof.

Figure HT is a longitudinal sectional view of Figure l of the impregnating portion of the machine.

lligure IV a continuation of the section shown in Figure III, particularly illustrating the rec 111p; mechanism,

Figure l a rear elevation of the Inachine.

l igurc l l is a side elevation of the reeling mechanism showing the table in deprcssed position.

F gure VII a fragmentary sectional view illustrating; the action of the pressing roller.

In the drawings, in which similar char- .ic'ters of reference are employed to denote correspondinn; parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 designates as an entirety the supporting frame work for the improved machine. Said frame work has secured at one end thereof the journals 2 for the shaft on which rotatably mounted the drum or reel l carrying the material 5 to be treated. This material it is to be noted is preferably grained imitation leather, coated fabric, or the like, the particular purpose being to employ such material in the formation of covers for metal eyeglass cases. To attach such material to the UtSQS it is necessary to make use of some form of adhesive and it has in the past been customary to employ a suit-- able rubber or gutta-percha base adhesive material as being permanent water-proof,

and the like.

Prior to this invention, however, it has been customary to cut this material into form or substantially into the form for cover-inn; the case, to then apply to the individual piece a sheet of the adhesive, and to then apply the two to the case to be covcred under heat and pressure to cause the covering material to be secured thereto. While relatively satisfactory results could be thus accomplished the process was an expensive one and an absolute union between the parts at all times could not be assured.

The invention therefore, proposes to obviate these ditlicult-ies experienced in the prior art by providing novel and improved means by which the adhesive and the covering material may be not only placed together while the covering material is in roll or strip form, but in. which the covering; ma terial will be thoroughly impregnated with the adhesive, as distinguished from more surface contact or adhesion that there will be no possibility of separation of the parts.

In the accomplishment of this result the, material 5 is fed over the idling rolls 6 and up over the main guide or position roller 7, while at the same time the adhesive in the form of a sheet of tissue, or the like, is carried by a roll. 8 on the roll holder arms 9 so that it may be fed over the layer of the material 5 on top of the roll 7. In th manner there is fed from the guide roll 7 a combined. Slll'llf) ll) coinpi-isingtil a cloth (ill base with the adhesive tissue resting thereon. To facilitate this feeding action as the parts are initially started, a metal guide strip member 11 having teeth 12 is used, said teeth being hooked into the material 5, this sheet being passed between the heavier metal roller 13 and the upper roller 14. This upper roller 14 is in the form of a steam tight drum having spray steam fed thereinto through the hollow supporting shaft 15 with apertures as at 16, while the drum itself is provided with the outlet aperturesl'? covered by a heavy but yieldable fabric or similar yielding material 18 of a nature to allow the steam from the apertures 17 to seep out therethrough in a substantially continuous hot film so that the roller is raised to a quite high temperature and is provided with this moist or vapor lilm. In operation the roller 13 is driven by the worm 19 on the drive shaft 20 meshing with the gear 21 on the shaft 22 of the roller or drum 13, while this shaft in turn is provided with the gear 23 meshing with the gear 24 on the shaft 15 of the drum or roller 14 so that the two are rotated together with their opposed or contacting surfaces moving in the same direction.

It is to be noted that the shaft 15 is journaled in the slide blocks or bearings 25 downwardly impelled as by the spring 26 whose pressure is controlled by the screw 27 having the adjusting wheel 28 so that the two rolls are forced together with a heavy pressure which may be temporarily released if desired through the use of the cam 29 actuated by the handle 30 which may be rocked to cam the slide block 25 upward and thus temporarily relieve the pressure between the rolls.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when the plate 11 is placed between the two rolls and the same are actuated the plate and attached material will be drawn through the rolls when the upper roller will put a very heavy pressure on the tissue covering of the fabric 5 and at the same time will, on account of the heat of this roller and its live steam, soften and tend to melt or at least render gummy and sticky the tissue so that the tissue from the roll 8 will be caused to stick and adhere to the fabric In carrying out this result if desired the lower roller may be filled with water, or the like, maintaining it ata constant low or cool temperature protecting the under surface of the fab ric and preventing damaging of this or softening up of the grained fabric itself.

It will be noted particularly by reference to Figure VII that the resiliency of the roll covering 18 and pressure is such that this covering 18 will sink down into the grooves or interstices 31 of the grained material forcing the tissue down into these grooves rather than resting merely on the surface r is ordinarily the case in endeavoring to unite a fiat sheet of material with a rough or irregular surface.

The material having passed between the rollers the guide sheet 11 and subsequently the united material then pass into the oven chamber 32, heated as by any suitable well known gas burners or jets, or the like, 33. to maintain a continuous high tenn crature suflicient to melt the tissue but below a point that will not injure the grained material. 5.

The combination strip 10 passes slowly through this chamber and the heat causes the adhesive material to sink down into and impregnate the material 5 in place of being merely the surface union produced by the initial effect of the heated pressure roller 17. The material having passed through the oven chamber then designed to pass through a second set of rolls comprhsing lli'. lower metal roller or drum 33 and the upper drum or roller 34-, which is carried like the roller 17, in the sliding bearii P35 actuated by the spring 36. control screw 37 and wheel 38, to put the desired pressure on the linished material. This drum is also perl'o rated as at 31) and provided with the cloth covering -10, but in place of cmployim livc steam, makes use of cold water under pres sure, so that as the finished material is fed under this roll and as it approiu'hcs the roll from the oven it is subjected to the cil'ccl. of a line chilled spray cooling the surface ol' the adhesive material so that as the linishcd material 10 issues from the rolls it will have no tacky tendency and may be satisfactorily re-rolled or coiled until required for use.

In connection with the foregoing attention is directed to the scraper -11 continuously acting against the lower roll 13 to remove from its surface any of the adhesive material which may, over the edges or otherwise. have gotten onto the roll 13, and might subsequently spoil the lower finished surface of the material 5 if allowed to remain on the bottom pressure roll. and to the fa-t that a similar scraper -12 is used in combination with the lower roller 33 driven from illo power shaft 20 as by the worm l and c'jcar 14.

An additional feature of particular advantage in this connection is the roller ll) carried by the rock arms l6 and conlrolled by the arm or lever 17. which may be suilably conneiled with the frame as by a spring or connection l8. This roller is normally disposed down beneath and out of engagement with the strip 10, but when dcsircd to be used the lever -17 is rocked to throw the roller 15 upward causing an upward kink in the material 10 and bringing it up against the roller 49 carried. by the frame and kept moist bv the spray from the drum '34-. the two rollers thus poviding 2 dam, and preventing backing of the cooling spray into the oven chamber while insuring a plentiful supply of the chilling water on the material immediately before it passes through the final pressing}; rolls. Any suitable well known means (not shown) may be used at a. point adjacent the rolls and .1-9 -lor drawing oil the cooling water.

Disposed immediately beyond the second pair of pressing rolls where the tinis -hed material is discharged, a second smaller oven or drying chai'nber is preferably employed and through the chamber 50 the material may pass, to dry it in condition for final winding, this chamber being adjacent a table 51 hinged as at to swing downwardly from its normal substantially horizontal position to the much lower position shown in Figure VI, when it rests against the spring butler 53, the weight of the table being ordinarily substantially counter-balanced as by the weight 54 moving over the pulley 55 disposed adjacent the point of plVOltlllCt of the table. To normally hold the table in raised position it is provided with the intermediately pivoted spring pressed latch meniber 56, cooperatin g with the keeper 57 on the main frame 1 and formed at its lower end with the adjustable contact 58 cooperating with the operating cam 59, which when depre sed serves to release the latch. This cam is preferably carried by the lower end ol the slide rod (it) which moves through the bearing (3'1 on the table trame 62 amlhas at its upper end the hearii'lg 63 of the guide roll 64:, this roll being formed with grooves (55 atlording clearance for the teeth 66 on the winding roll 67. In the operation of these parts the winding roll 07 is suitably driven and serves primarily to lrictionally engage the plate 11 and draw it on through and with it the nlaterial 10 resting on the table, which serves as a guide for the plate as the latter initially emerges from between the finishing rolls. The teeth or hooks (56 will then grasp the material and start carrying it around the roll (57, pushing it oil the holding teeth 12 on the plate ll, which will then drop oil? the end of the swinging table andv associated parts. As the material now starts to wind on the roll 67 it, will increase the diameter of this roll, this increase forcing: downward the supplemental or guiding; roll til against the tension of the springs 68. The material will by this time have become :tirnily seated upon the roll 67 and in proper straight relation with respect thereto as guided by the table til; continued winding of the material. will press the roll 64 to such an extent that the cam 59 engaging the contact 58 will swing the latch 56 into released position when the weight of the table 51, guide roll 64:, and the like, will cause the parts to swing}; downward and into contact with the butter 53, allowing the material to readily wind into as large a roll. as may be desired.

It will thus be seen that the entire operation from initial startii'ig oi the machine until ctm'ipletion of the entire coating, drying and "re-wilulii're; of the in'u negnatetl niiaterial, is automatic and requires substantially no a ttention from an operator and that the desired result is thus accon'iplished in an ex tremely simple and ellicient manner and the impregnated fabric in its rolled 'l orm can then be shared away, shipped elsewhere it? desired, or taken out and cut iron: the roll. in to exact size pieces rerpiired, reducing to a minimum waste in connection with handling); and use thereof.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, means for feeding superin'iposcd layers oi material, a guide teed roll, a pres-sure 'tcril roll lrurirp; internal and external openings, and means for introducing;- steam through the internal openings of the pressure roll from whence it may escape through the vi:- terna-l openings to act upon the material, and a roll lilled with cold water engaging the ted material. on the side opposite from that engaging the pressure "teed roll.

2. In a device of the character described.

means for feeding superimposed layers of material. a guide teed roll containing cooling i'neanu, a pressure leed roll baring internal and external openings, and means i'or introducing steam through the intt-u'nal open ings of the pressure roll from. whence it may escape through the external openings to act upon the fed material.

3. In a device of the character described, means for feeding superimposed layers at material, a guide teed roll, a pressure :leed roll having); internal and external opeuilnrs, means for intrtalucing steam through the in ternal openings of the pressure roll from whence it may escape through the external openings to act upon the fed material, a roll filled with cold water engaging, the fed material on the side opposite from that cua ling the pressure feed roll and means for heating the ted material after it llilHtriLiL-i through the feed rolls.

4.. A fabric impregnating machine inchuling means for feeding: superimpoeed layers oi? material, a guide teed roll therelfor, a pressure teed roll therefor. said plttlttlll't? teed roll being heated to soften and lorce the layers together, means for sub-aceuently heating;' the con'lhined layers to cause a more thorough union therebetween. and mean for chilling the exposed taco ol the material after heating, said means comprising a spray roller beneath which the material passes.

5. A fabric impregnating machine including means for feeding simerimpost-al layers of irraterial, a guide teed roll there" r. a pressure feed roll therefor, said pressure teed roll beinn heated to sullen and 'luzne heating the combined layers to cause a more thorough union therebetween, means for chilling the exposed face of the material after heating, said means comprising a spray roller beneath which the material passes, means for drying the sprayed material, and means for rolling up the dried united material.

7. A machine of the character described,

including means for supplying superimtill posed layers of material, a pressure feed roll for feeding the layers, having internal and external openings, means for introducing steam through the internal openings whence it may escape through the external openings, means for continuing the heating action commenced by the rolls, and means for subsequently chil ing the parts.

8. In a machine of the character described, opposed pairs of driven feed rolls, one of said pairs including a steam heated cylinder and the other of said pairs including a similarly located chilled cylinder.

9. A machine of the character described, including means for uniting a fabric and an adhesive under heat, and perforated roller means for applying water vapor to the ad hesive face of the united parts and chilled means for engaging the side of the fed material opposite from that engaged by the perforated roller.

10. A machine of the character described, including means for uniting a fabric and an adhesive under heat, means for applying a water film to the adhesive face of the united parts, and a moisture dam to confine the water film to the neighborhood of its application.

11. In a device of the character described. means for feeding superimposed layers of material, a guide feed roll, a pressure feed roll having internal and external openings, means for introducing steam through the internal openings of. the pressure roll from whence it may escape through the external openings to act upon the fed material, means for heating the fed material after it passes through the feed rolls, and means for chilling the fed material after heating.

12. A machine of the character described, including separated pairs of similar rolls,

one roll of each pair having a chilled nonyielding face and the other roller of each pair having a yielding non-metallic face protected by a liquid film.

13. A machine for producing adhesive impregnated sheet material, including means for supplying the material in supcrinr posed layers, heated pressure means for initially uniting the layers, means for superheating the layers to melt the adhesive into the body material, additional means for compressing the united layers, and means for varying the initial and lillul pressures as desired.

M. In a fabric impregnating machine,

guide and pressure feed rolls, one of: the latter having cooling means and the other being heated to soften and force llll'.liitlhesive layers of material together, mans for subsequently heating the combined lay-- ers to cause a more thorough union there between, and additional guide and pres uriadvancing rolls remote from the first rolls and at the other end of said subsequent heating means, the latter of the additional rolls having means for chilling the exposed face of the material after heating.

15. In a fabric impregnating machine, guide and pressure feed rolls, one of the latter having coooling means and the other being heated to soften and force intcr-adhesive layers of material together, means for subsequently heating the combined layers to cause a more thorough union therel)etween, additional guide and pressure advancing rolls remote from the first rolls and at the other end of said subsequent heating means, the latter of the additional rolls having means for chilling the exposed face of the material after heating, and means for feeding superimposed layers of material to the first set of rolls.

16. In a fabric impregnating machine, guide and pressure fecd'rolls, one of the latter having cooling means and the other being heated to soften and force inter-adhesive layers of material together, means for subsequently heating the combined layers to cause a more thorough union therehetween, additional guide and pressure ad vancing rolls remote from the first rolls and at the other end of said SllllSO/llltlll heating means, the latter of the additional rolls having means for chilling the et-cposcd face of the material after heating, means for feed ing superimposed layers of material to the first set of rolls, and means for re-rceling the material after leaving the second set of rolls.

17. In a machine for in'i in'egnating fabric with a sheet of adhesive, a lower guide roll filled with cold water, an upper internally heated roll, and perforated means on the last roll for causing the spreading of a vapor film from the interior of the roll over the lltl iii

material after it has passed through the teed rolls, and a pair oil rolls between which the material is ted from the heated even, one

containing a liquid and a perforated surface through which the moisture is fed to the material.

19. In a device of the charactca' desmzibed, means tor supplying superimposed layers oil. adhesive and "fabric, a pair of teed rolls tor ieedinp; the n'iaterial, one being; chilled, the other being heated, a heated oven to receive the material after it has passed through the feed rolls, a pair of rolls between which the material is fed from the even, one con taining a liquid and a perforated surface through which the moisture is fed to the material, and means tor reeling the material after it has passed through the second pair of rolls.

20. In a device of the character described, means for supplying superin'iposed layers of adl'iesive and fabric, a pair oi teed rolls for feeding the material, one being; chilled, the other being heated, a heated oven to receive the material after it has passed tl'irough the teed rolls, a pair of rolls between Which the material is l ed from the oven, one containing; a liquid and a perforated surface through which the moisture is fed to the material, means for reeling the material after it has passed through. the second pair of rolls, and a. moisture dam to confine the moisture to the neighborhood of its application.

21. In a device of the character described, means for supplying superimposed layers of material, a guide feed roll, a pressure teed roll having internal and external openings, means for introducing steam through the internal openings of the pressure roll from whence it may escape through the external openings to act upon the fed material, and cam means to separate the guide teed roll and the pressure :teed roll.

22. In a device of the character described, means for supplying superimposed layers of material, a guide roll, a pressure roll having" an internal supply of moisture and external openings through which the moisture may esczu ie to act upon the fed material. I

22-}. In a device 01 the character described, means tor supplying superimposed layers of material, a guide roll, a pressure roll having an internal supply of moisture, external openings through which the I'l'lOlf-tUTG may est-211w to act upon the fed material, and a moisture dam to confine the moisture to the neighborhood oi. its a ndication.

24L. In a device of the character described, means for supplying superimposed. layers of material, a guide teed roll, a pressure teed roll, a heated oven into which the i'naterial is ted after it passes through the rolls, a second pair of rolls comprising a guide roll and a pressi'ire roll, the pressure roll havinp; an internal supply oi? moisture, and openings in its surface by which the moisture is ted to the material, a second. heated oven into which the material asses utter it goes through. the second pair of rolls, and means tor reeling up the material a liter it has passed. through the second oven.

25. In a device ot the character described, means tor supplying superimposed layers oi? material, a guide feed roll, a heated pressure roll, a chilled pressure roll engaging the fed material on the side opposite from the heated roll, a heated oven into which the material passes after leaving; the pressiu'e rolls, a second pair of rolls coi'i'iprising a. :teed roll and a moisture roll, and a second heated oven into which the material passes after leaving the second pair of rolls.

JOHN TI-IO ll IAS LANCASTER.

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